Town and Country Planning Act 1990

79 Determination of appeals. E+W

(1) On an appeal under section 78 the Secretary of State may—

(a) allow or dismiss the appeal, or

(b) reverse or vary any part of the decision of the local planning authority (whether the appeal relates to that part of it or not),

and may deal with the application as if it had been made to him in the first instance.

(2) Before determining an appeal under section 78 the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

[F1 (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to—

(a) an appeal referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission under section 101; or

(b) an appeal against a decision of a local planning authority in England.]

(4) Subject to subsection (2), the provisions of sections [F2 70, 72(1) and (5), 73 and 73A] and Part I of Schedule 5 shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to an appeal to the Secretary of State under section 78 as they apply in relation to an application for planning permission which falls to be determined by the local planning authority [F3 and a development order may apply, with or without modifications, to such an appeal any requirements imposed by a development order by virtue of section 65 or 71].

(5) The decision of the Secretary of State on such an appeal shall be final.

(6) If, before or during the determination of such an appeal in respect of an application for planning permission to develop land, the Secretary of State forms the opinion that, having regard to the provisions of sections 70 and 72(1), the development order and any directions given under that order, planning permission for that development—

(a) could not have been granted by the local planning authority; or

(b) could not have been granted otherwise than subject to the conditions imposed,

he may decline to determine the appeal or to proceed with the determination.

[F4 (6A) If at any time before or during the determination of such an appeal it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, he may—

(a) give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are specified in the notice for the expedition of the appeal; and

(b) if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.]

(7) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under section 78, including appeals under that section as applied by or under any other provision of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 79(3) substituted (6.4.2009 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 196, 241, Sch. 10 para. 4 (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 3

F2 Words in s. 79(4) substituted (2.1.1992 so far as relating to the inclusion of a reference to s. 73A and otherwise 17.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 32, Sch. 7 para. 19 (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2905, art. 3, Sch. 1 (subject to art .5); S.I. 1992/1491, art. 2, Sch. 1

F3 Words at end of s. 79(4) inserted (17.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 32, Sch. 7 para. 19 (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1992/1491, art. 2, Sch. 1

F4 S. 79(6A) inserted (25.9.1991) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 18 (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2067, art. 3 (subject to art. 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 78, 79 modified by S.I. 1989/670, reg. 15 as amended by S.I. 1990/1562, regs. 2, 3, 6

Ss. 78, 79 applied (with modifications) (6.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/666, reg. 15(1)(3), Sch. 4 Pts. I, IV, V

S. 79 applied (with modifications) (2.8.1999) by S.I. 1999/1892, reg. 2(1), Sch. art. 7, Sch. 2 Pt. I

S. 79 applied (with modifications) (2.8.1999) by S.I. 1999/1892, reg. 2(1), Sch. art. 7, Sch. 2 Pt. II

C2 Ss. 78, 79 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2007) by The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/783), reg. 17, Sch. 4 (as amended (1.10.2013) by S.I. 2013/2114, regs. 1(1), 3)

C3 S. 79(2) excluded (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 8, ss. 70(4), 278(2), Sch. 7 para. 7 (with ss. 20, 64, 219)